Rich Evans is counting on one fact to help him win this November’s District Two city-council race: he’s running against Jimmy Kelly. Kelly, who has represented the South Boston, Chinatown, and South End since the district seat was created 18 years ago, has championed such causes as keeping gay marchers out of the annual South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade; his brash conservatism has enraged liberals in the district. And Evans, who hosted a South End kickoff party Tuesday night at the trendy bar Flash’s, is hoping to capitalize on that. Though Evans, a South Boston native who works as a manager of finance and planning for the MBTA, is more of a moderate than a left-wing crusader, the crowd — about 35 people, who scarfed grilled-brie sandwiches and shrimp — was ready to embrace him. Says Barbara Hoffman, a member of the South End’s Ward Four Democratic Committee and the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, " When I first met [Evans], I went up to him and told him I was glad to see he didn’t have two heads — but since he’s running against Jim Kelly, I would have voted for him even if he had. "

Evans, a 42-year-old father of three, says he’s running because he disagrees with Kelly’s approach to such issues as development in the neighborhood. Kelly is waging a much-publicized lawsuit against Mayor Tom Menino for reneging on a lucrative and controversial deal that would have granted South Boston 51 percent of linkage funds from development along the waterfront. Neighboring communities usually get 10 to 20 percent of linkage funds, so Southie’s special deal enraged councilors and activists from other parts of the city (see Editorial). Says Evans, " I’d sit down with the city and work out a deal that brings affordable housing to the district. To sue the CEO of the city is not helpful to the residents of our district. My position is, a percentage of something is better than zero. "

Evans is also critical of Kelly on issues of diversity. In contrast to Kelly, he says, " I’m for keeping an open mind. It’s a willingness on my part to be inclusive in decision-making. " He won the endorsement of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Political Alliance two weeks ago, and he hopes to find similar support in the heavily gay South End. " This is a key nucleus here in the South End, " he said. " I’ve heard time and again that they don’t feel the current councilor is looking out for their interests. "

The candidate is the cousin of Police Commissioner Paul Evans, a key ally of the mayor’s, but he insists that Menino is not masterminding his candidacy. " I’m running as an individual from South Boston, " he says. " I’m not depending on anyone’s plugged-in support. If any of Mayor Menino’s supporters choose to back me, I welcome that, but I’m not looking for an endorsement. "

But maybe he should. The South End’s voting figures pale in comparison to turnout in South Boston, where Kelly is still popular — so he’ll need all the support he can get to topple Kelly. Evans’s status as a Southie native could warm voters, however, and his brother-in-law Brian Connolly believes the neighborhood will embrace him. " Richie is the voice Southie’s been waiting to hear for a long time, " he says. " The type of people Richie represents have been there a long time, but they’re also progressives, people who want to include folks. "

Evans’s campaign is a long shot. But to voters tired of Kelly’s ultra-conservatism, it’s also their best hope.

Issue Date: August 30 - September 6, 2001